Congress introduces AWARE Act

Congress introduces AWARE Act

In response to a front pagearticle in the New York Timesabout alleged animal abuses at a federal research facility in Clay Center, Neb., Congress introduced a bill this month that will change how farm animals are cared for in agricultural research.

Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) in the House and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the Animal Welfare and Agriculture Research Endeavors (AWARE) Act (S. 388/H.R. 746) on Feb. 5. This bill will require that farm animals used in agricultural research at federal facilities be included in the definition of “animal” under the Animal Welfare Act, resulting in regular inspections and oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service